Car Upgrades: Why Switch to Air Suspension?
The link between the engine and the transmission is what we all know as the suspension. But what exactly is it and why is it so complex? The suspension is actually a system of components that work together to not only help keep your car stable on the road but to also make it steer.
Yes, the suspension actually helps your vehicle turn and stay in line when you're going straight. There are more than a dozen parts that make up the suspension and depending on the type of suspension on both the front and back wheels the number and type of air suspension parts can vary. For the longest time, coils and springs have been common but air suspension has taken a rise in popularity too.
Benefits of Air Suspension
Comfort
Like all types of suspension systems, air suspension helps make your car more comfortable but the level of comfort it offers is unmatched by any other system. Thanks to air-filled bags, which any well-equipped air suspension shop has, you get to feel like you are on a cloud especially when driving on smooth tarmac. This level of comfort also helps with shock absorption.
Versatility
Although air suspension is made to keep your car feel like a luxury sedan with a three-point star on the bonnet, it can also be quite a practical addition. Retrofitting air ride suspension also allows you to raise and lower your ride height. This can help you load your vehicle much more easily and go over rough terrain without damaging the underside.
Handling
Air suspension can help make your car handle better, especially when on a twisty road. No matter how heavy or bulky your car is, with the right type of air suspension, you can make it feel more stout. This doesn't mean you'll have race car-like handling but you will definitely be more confident when going into sharp corners.
Parts of an Air Suspension System
Compressor
Every air ride suspension system no matter how simple or complex, needs a source of pressurised air and what better than an air compressor? The compressor is what draws in air from the outside and then pressurises it so it can be sent to the airbags but not before it makes one stop.
Tank
On the way to all 4 airbags, the compressed air from the compressor goes into a tank. This tank can store more air than what's in the bags so that when you need to raise your ride height you don't have to wait for the compressor to kick in. Just push a button and up you go.
Bags
The airbags or bellows as they're also known are what store the air and provide support for all that weight. They are made of rubber which can take quite a lot of inflating and deflating and, of course, the total weight of your vehicle including its towing capabilities.
Lines
Some very crucial air suspension parts that don't get mentioned enough when it comes to air ride suspension are the lines that help the air move from one component to another. Without them you can't have the tank supplied with air nor the bags would get filled with air. If any lines are damaged, you will notice that the compressor is working way harder than usual.
Solenoid
Operating every movement and closing and opening of valves for air to pass through is a solenoid. This is just an electronically controlled main valve that opens and closes certain passages so that compressed air can go from one component to another and it all starts with the press of a button.
Types of Air Suspension Kits
Air Springs
There are many different ways to retrofit your vehicle with an air suspension ride but one of the best is to go for a kit. One prime example is an air springs kit. This is a solution that every air suspension shop has. That's because it replaces the stock air springs, if you have them, with adjustable air springs which have the above-mentioned components. This kit allows you to set up your car's suspension exactly how you want.
Coilover Conversion
If your vehicle relies on coilovers you can get a coilover conversion kit that lets you combine the tried and true nature of coilovers with the wonderful benefits of adjustable air springs. While you don't get to keep the stock coilovers, you do get the benefit of both a coilover shock and an adjustable spring perch on each wheel. This allows you to set your ride height but also the stiffness of your ride making it more versatile than a regular air spring kit.
Full
With a full kit, you get to completely switch to air suspension, no conversion or half-way solutions. This means you're getting air springs and dampers which lets you have more control over your ride height and stiffness and if you go for adaptive dampers you can set your vehicle exactly the way you want according to the road you're on.
